Hearing Begins on Burley Aquifer Injections
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TODAY IS ELECTION DAY— DON’T FORGET TO VOTE! 60 / 35 Phillies down Yankees in game 5 of World Series Partly sunny. 1 SPORTS Agribusiness 4 GOT MILK >>> Idaho dairymen back away from efforts to promote price supports, AGRIBUSINESS 1 TUESDAY 75 CENTS November 3, 2009 MagicValley.com Hearing begins on Twin Falls water usage mirrors Burley aquifer national trend injections By Ben Botkin Times-News writer By Nate Poppino watching polluted water Times-News writer flow through a ditch to a The city of Twin Falls’ junction area near the water usage has decreased POCATELLO — A former siphoning well. in recent years, mirroring a feedlot employee described “I knew that that well was national trend that shows to a federal judge watching taking that water and those water usage by cities and contaminated water being contaminants at that time,” industries has declined in pumped into the ground Carson said. the last few decades. near Burley on the first of a Prosecutors may have to Americans are using less two-day hearing focused on work to swing the judge water per person now than Double C Farms co-owner their way.Outside of Carson they have since the mid- Cory King. and similar testimony from 1950s, according to a A jury in April found King a former Idaho Department report released last week guilty of four counts of of Water Resources employ- by the U.S. Geological injecting fluids into an ee, they focused much of Survey. The nation’s water underground aquifer with- their time on the process usage is down from a peak out a permit, as well as one used to test a sample of in 1980. count of making a false Willow Creek water nearly Experts said it was par- statement to investigators. one month after King ticularly welcome news in Now, as part of prepara- stopped injecting water in the burgeoning West, tion for his sentencing, June 2005. where cities built in dry lawyers on both sides are The water at that time regions are grappling with meeting before U.S. District showed some presence of E. intense disputes and Judge B. Lynn Winmill to coli bacteria and exceeded ecosystem collapse tied to debate just what those fluids drinking-water standards dwindling supplies. were. for total coliform, according “Even during a time of King’s federal indictment to a statement filed by population growth and originally alleged the fluids Stephanie Harris, the U.S. economic growth, we are were contaminated waste- Environmental Protection all using less water,” said water,but the issue was later Agency’s lead regional Susan Hutson, a USGS kept out of the April trial. microbiologist and a wit- hydrologist in Memphis, On Monday, prosecutors ness on Monday. But prose- and an author of the finally made their case for cutors could not show the report. “It’s exciting to see the waste, capping a string state of the water during the we have responded to these of witnesses with Shawn injections, and only Carson crises by really seeking Carson, a former Double C confirmed for them that solutions.” employee who alerted state irrigation diversions from Twin Falls hit a peak for inspectors to the injection the creek had allegedly once daily water usage in the wells and has since become been used before as drinking summer of 2001, when the caught up in state-level law- water. city used 33 million gallons suits with the feedlot own- King’s lawyers attacked in one day. Since then, usage ers. the competence and credi- has dropped, which city Carson said he’d been bility of the scientists who officials credit to water aware of injections at at least gathered and tested the one well since he started water, and presumably will See WATER, Main 4 full-time at Double C continue to attempt to por- around 1993. Used as a way tray Carson as an upset and to prevent possible flooding irresponsible ex-employee in nearby Willow Creek, one when cross-examination INSIDE well in particular also resumes today. Going ‘green’ with organic ASHLEY SMITH/Times-News allegedly sucked up waste- They will also present lawn-care methods. Armando Aspeytia, with the Twin Falls Water Department, works with colleagues Monday to replace an old water from other facilities their own witnesses some- fire hydrant. Water usage in Twin Falls has declined over the past decade in a trend that mirrors what’s hap- during the wet spring of time during the hearing, See Home & Garden 1 pening nationally in water conservation. 2005, he said. He described which starts at 9 a.m. Filer residents Convicted killer’s call for relief flops By Andrea Jackson hearing on Monday. and three men were were convicted in Coates’ mur- to vote on Times-News writer She is serving a prison locked up for the killing, der. Baker also says she had an sentence of 12 years to life which followed a robbery ineffective public defender. Nicole Baker’s attempt to get for first-degree murder spree. “A plea was made involuntari- out of a prison sentence for mur- and criminal conspiracy, But now Baker says she ly under distress and fear of life liquor proposal der flopped on Monday when a after pleading guilty in took responsibility for indeterminate, the usual scare Twin Falls judge dismissed most the 2006 killing of 19- something she didn’t do. tactics used by malicious prose- By Ben Botkin of her claims. year-old Jesse Coates. In an application for cution and under paid (sic) public Times-News writer Baker, 25, is lodged at the Coates, 19, was found Baker post-conviction relief, defenders,”Baker states in court Pocatello Women’s Correctional shot dead in the South Baker says she was kid- Filer residents will decide in the elec- Center and did not appear for her Hills in December 2006. Baker napped and tortured by men who See KILLER, Main 2 tion today if the city’s establishments should be allowed to sell liquor by the drink. Currently, the city only allows estab- lishments with liquor licenses to sell Campaign contributions sparse for T.F.Council race patrons drinks of wine and beer.The pro- By Ben Botkin feel he raised that much. posal, if approved by a simple majority of Times-News writer Magicvalley.com Talkington reported $725 in voters, would allow the sale of other alco- contributions from Oct. 10-27, VIEW holic beverages such as vodka,bourbon or If counting ballots takes as campaign contribution records. with $775 for the year through SEE mixed drinks. long as counting campaign con- election results posted tonight. Oct. 27. His supporters include The proposal is on the ballot following tributions, Twin Falls City Ernie Bengoechea, Marge Slotten a petition submitted by Deborah Corbett, Council candidates will have a Councilman Greg Lanting, Gregg Middlekauff, who gave and Charles Tuma, who each co-owner of the Moon Bar in Filer. short wait tonight for election who is running for re-election to $250; Bill Kyle, who gave $200, gave $100; and Eugene Conner, The petition has 185 signatures, and results after the polls close. seat 5, reported $850 in contribu- and Gerald Martens and Doug who gave $200. meets the requirements under Idaho The most recent campaign tions for Oct. 1-20, with a total of Vollmer, who each gave $100. Talkington said supporters code, said Shari Hart, Filer city clerk. finance disclosure reports, which $2,150 in donations for the year Mark Huston of Des Moines, have been generous, adding that Under state law, a petition to sell liquor were due last week,show that the through that date. Lanting has Iowa, — whom Lanting said is his he has never seen a relationship by the drink qualifies for placement on highest level of financial support three challengers: Chris best friend — gave $150. between the amount of contri- the ballot if it’s by signed by 20 percent of for any one council candidate Talkington, Steve Garner and Jim Lanting said he’s surprised to butions and the number of votes. came in slightly above the $2,000 Schouten. have the highest level of financial See LIQUOR, Main 2 mark. Lanting’s supporters include support, adding that he didn’t See RACE, Main 2 Comics....................Sports 4 Crossword..................H&G 7 Obituaries ..................Main 7 GOP victory won’t ease Commodities..Agribusiness 2 Dear Abby ..................H&G 7 Opinion ......................Main 8 THE WAR WITHIN Community ............Main 5,6 Movies ......................Main 4 Sudoku ....................H&G 10 party’s problems > Agribusiness 3 MORNINGMORNINGMain 2 Tuesday, November 3, 2009 BRIEFINGBRIEF- MC Times-News, Twin Falls, Idaho Pat’s Picks TODAY’S HAPPENINGS Three things to do today ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT Street Plaza, Twin Falls, free admission, 734- Bereavement Education groups, hosted by Pat Marcantonio Master class on Latin percussion styles and 2787 or magicvalleyartscouncil.org. Hospice of Intermountain Healthcare and techniques presented by percussionist Cassia Regional Medical Center, 5 to • Go vote at city elections. jazz. The College of Russ Caldwell, workshop includes introduc- GOVERNMENT 6:30 p.m., in the Oakley Room (rear Do you civic duty. City elec- Southern Idaho Jazz Faculty tion and demonstration of Latin percussion entrance of old hospital ER), Parke Twin Falls County commissioners, 8:30 a.m., View Care Center, 2303 Parke Ave., Burley, tion turnout is traditionally Combo, with percussionist instruments with brief history of Afro- courthouse, 425 Shoshone St. N., 736-4068. low, so help turn that Russ Caldwell, performs a Cuban and Brazilian rhythms, 3 p.m., Room 678-8844. Blaine County commissioners, 9 a.m., court- Adult Children Anonymous (ACA) meeting, around.